Black man's killing sparks Minneapolis protest

MINNEAPOLIS－Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis on Saturday demanding justice after police shot dead a young black man, Amir Locke, during a "no-knock" raid on his apartment last week.

The crowd, chanting Locke's name and the slogan "No justice, no peace", rallied at Government Plaza in Minnesota's largest city three days after Locke, 22, was shot on his couch by police.

The day after the killing, police made public video footage from the raid that showed Locke was holding a gun as he twisted beneath a blanket on his sofa after being roused by officers moments before he was shot dead.

Police said the officers were exercising a no-knock search warrant that authorizes police to enter private property without first alerting occupants or announcing their presence.

The warrant was issued in relation to a homicide inquiry led by detectives from the neighboring Saint Paul Police Department. Locke was not named in the warrant, and Minneapolis police have acknowledged it was unclear how or whether he was connected to that investigation.

Protesters said Locke had a right to possess a weapon in his own home and was never given the chance to disarm himself in the chaotic moments as police stormed in without warning.

Demanding justice

At least 500 demonstrators assembled in below-freezing temperatures on Saturday, demanding an unconditional ban on no-knock warrants, the dismissal and arrest of officers involved in the shooting, and the resignation of the mayor and police chief.

A series of speakers led the crowd through chants demanding racial justice and denouncing police violence against African Americans, who organizers said have been disproportionately targeted by heavy-handed, and discriminatory law enforcement tactics.

On Friday Mayor Jacob Frey responded to the Locke shooting, ordering a moratorium on no-knock search warrants, saying he was acting to "ensure safety of both the public and officers until a new policy is crafted".

The Locke shooting was the latest in a string of incidents to put the Minneapolis-area police department under scrutiny.

Almost two years ago George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was killed by a white officer who knelt on his neck for more than 9 minutes during an arrest on suspicion of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. Outrage over Floyd's death sparked a nationwide movement challenging police brutality and bias in the US criminal justice system.

Also on Saturday, a gunman in Texas killed four members of his own family, including a child, before shooting himself dead as officers approached, police said.

Agencies Via Xinhua